Use and Abuse of a Fractional Fokker-Planck Dynamics for Time-Dependent Driving

We investigate a subdiffusive, fractional Fokker-Planck dynamics occurring in time-varying potential landscapes and thereby disclose the failure of the fractional Fokker-Planck equation (FFPE) in its commonly used form when generalized in an {\it ad hoc} manner to time-dependent forces. A modified FFPE (MFFPE) is rigorously derived, being valid for a family of dichotomously alternating force-fields. This MFFPE is numerically validated for a rectangular time-dependent force with zero average bias. For this case subdiffusion is shown to become enhanced as compared to the force free case. We question, however, the existence of any physically valid FFPE for arbitrary varying time-dependent fields that differ from this dichotomous varying family.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Phospholipid metabolism by phagocytic cells. Phospholipases A2 associated with rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocyte granules

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes obtained from sterile peritoneal exudates in rabbits contain two phospholipid-splitting activities (phosphatidylacylhydrolases EC 3.1.1.4), one most active at pH 5.5 and the other between pH 7.2 and 9.0. Hydrolysis of phospholipid was demonstrated using Escherichia coli labeled during growth with [1-(14)C]oleate and then autoclaved to inactivate E. coli phospholipases and to increase the accessibility of the microbial phospholipid substrates. The acid and alkaline phospholipase activities are both membrane bound, calcium dependent, and heat stable, and they appear to be specific for the 2-acyl position of phospholipids. Evidence was also obtained suggesting that the E. coli envelope phospholipids with oleate in position 2 are more readily degraded than those with palmitate. The two activities are associated with azurophilic as well as specific granules (obtained by zonal centrifugation) and with phagosomes (isolated after ingestion of paraffin particles by the granulocytes). Phospholipase A activities at pH 5.5 and pH 7.5 degrade the two major phospholipids of E. coli, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol, to the same extent, but the phospholipase activity at acid pH does not hydrolyze micellar dispersions of phosphatidylethanolamine. By contrast, phospholipase A(2) activity at pH 7.5 degrades both types of phosphatidylethanolamine substrates. Heparin and chondroitin sulfate inhibit phospholipase activity at pH 5.5 but have little effect on activity at pH 7.5. All detergents tested inhibited phospholipase activity, and both activities are inhibited by reaction products, free fatty acid and lysophosphatidylethanolamine. This product inhibition is only partially prevented by addition of albumin. Supernatant fractions of granulocyte homogenates contain a heat-labile inhibitor of granule phospholipase activity at pH 7.5. Boiling the fraction not only removes the inhibition but actually results in stimulation of hydrolysis at pH 7.5 as well as pH 5.5. These granule-associated phospholipase A activities of polymorphonuclear leukocytes differ in several of their properties from granule or lysosomal phospholipases of other phagocytic cells

Dimer diffusion in a washboard potential

The transport of a dimer, consisting of two Brownian particles bounded by a harmonic potential, moving on a periodic substrate is investigated both numerically and analytically. The mobility and diffusion of the dimer center of mass present distinct properties when compared with those of a monomer under the same transport conditions. Both the average current and the diffusion coefficient are found to be complicated non-monotonic functions of the driving force. The influence of dimer equilibrium length, coupling strength and damping constant on the dimer transport properties are also examined in detail.Comment: Final revised version. 7 pages, 6 figure

Atomic spectrometry update. Clinical and biological materials, foods and beverages

This review discusses developments in elemental mass spectrometry, atomic absorption, emission and fluorescence, XRF and LIBS, as applied to the analysis of specimens of clinical interest, foods and beverages. Sample preparation procedures and quality assurance are also included.</p

The role of monoclonal antibodies in smoldering and newly diagnosed transplant-eligible multiple myeloma

The recent introduction of monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs), with several cellular targets, such as CD-38 (daratumumab and isatuximab) and SLAM F7 (elotuzumab), differently combined with other classes of agents, has significantly extended the outcomes of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) in different phases of the disease. Initially used in advanced/refractory patients, different MoAbs combination have been introduced in the treatment of newly diagnosed transplant eligible patients (NDTEMM), showing a significant improvement in the depth of the response and in survival outcomes, without a significant price in terms of toxicity. In smoldering MM, MoAbs have been applied, either alone or in combination with other drugs, with the goal of delaying the progression to active MM and restoring the immune system. In this review, we will focus on the main results achieved so far and on the main on-going trials using MoAbs in SMM and NDTEMM

Basic kinetic wealth-exchange models: common features and open problems

We review the basic kinetic wealth-exchange models of Angle [J. Angle, Social Forces 65 (1986) 293; J. Math. Sociol. 26 (2002) 217], Bennati [E. Bennati, Rivista Internazionale di Scienze Economiche e Commerciali 35 (1988) 735], Chakraborti and Chakrabarti [A. Chakraborti, B. K. Chakrabarti, Eur. Phys. J. B 17 (2000) 167], and of Dragulescu and Yakovenko [A. Dragulescu, V. M. Yakovenko, Eur. Phys. J. B 17 (2000) 723]. Analytical fitting forms for the equilibrium wealth distributions are proposed. The influence of heterogeneity is investigated, the appearance of the fat tail in the wealth distribution and the relaxation to equilibrium are discussed. A unified reformulation of the models considered is suggested.Comment: Updated version; 9 pages, 5 figures, 2 table